Batik, Archipelago Ornamental Fabric, which is a World Cultural Heritage

Batik and Indonesian Decorative Fabrics, the word batik comes from a combination of two words in Javanese, namely amba and dot. “Amba” means cloth and “dots” is a way of giving motifs to cloth by applying motifs to cloth using liquid wax by means of dots.

Batik is a culture that has long developed and is known by the people of Indonesia. Identical batik is associated with a process technique from the depiction of motifs to pelorodan. The history of batik in Indonesia is related to the development of the Majapahit kingdom and then the Solo and Yogyakarta kingdoms.

Batik art in Indonesia is increasingly widespread and has become the property of the people, especially the Javanese in the late 18th or early 19th century. The tradition of batik was originally a hereditary tradition. Batik has become part of the daily life of the Indonesian people.

Batik was also first introduced to the world by President Soeharto, who at that time wore batik at the UN Conference. In 2009 Indonesian Batik was officially recognized by UNESCO by being included in the representative list as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity (Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity).

Indonesia also sets October 2 as National Batik Day which is routinely celebrated every year. The Indonesian nation must be able to interpret and preserve this world cultural icon. Batik is the heritage of Indonesia’s ancestors which still exists today.

Batik has a variety of motifs and each motif has a different philosophy and meaning in each region. Along with the times, various types of batik and motifs have appeared and can be enjoyed today.

Now batik has developed in several places outside Java, even to foreign countries. In Indonesia, batik has also been developed in Aceh with Acehnese batik, Cual batik in Riau, Papuan batik, Sasirangan batik in East Kalimantan, and Minahasa batik.

Batik is considered an important cultural icon in Indonesia. Until now Indonesian people wear batik as casual and formal clothing that can be used in various events. In some areas, using it becomes an obligation so that it continues to be preserved and maintained properly.